Things That Blogging Has Taught Me In 2011

I know that everyone did their look back at 2011 last week but I decided to take the ENTIRE week off and spend it with my family. So that means I am a little late to the party (those that know me IRL are SHOCKED about this…cause I am never ever ever late (hee hee)).

A year and a half ago I had NO CLUE what I was in for when I started Vintage Revivals. I am overwhelmed with gratitude at the blessings that it has brought into my life. Opportunities that were never even on my radar of dreams have come because of this little blog. But I have had to learn a whole bunch this year some was easy, some was scary, and some is still impossibly hard for me….Balance?? Whats that strange word?

You know what I mean right? I LOVE everything about my blog. I could do it all day everyday and still love it. When you do something that you love so much and passion is your driving force its super easy to make it THE priority in your life. Passion keeps me up at night thinking about anything and everything. Passion has THE WORST deadlines (I want it done, and I want it done NOW!) Passion makes me commit to things that are hard. But. Those hard things make me a better person, keeping a hard deadline helps me with my procrastination issues, and if Tatertot Jen can stay up all night, then I can too. (Wink wink)

Before I started Vintage Revivals I did not decorate. Literally I had my MIL come over and help me and then I would leave it like that for years. The first project that I was really nervous about was my wall of mirrors. I had never seen it done but it seemed like a fun idea, so after lots of encouragement from my MIL I did it. And I am so glad that I did because it gave me confidence to try the next out of the box idea.

Do not be afraid to put yourself out there! When you are doing something amazing don’t be afraid to ask people to come along for the ride! Whether it is other bloggers, Brands, Media, readers, anything or anyone that you can build a beneficial relationship with they WANT to be on your bandwagon of awesomeness, I promise!!

You are good enough. Your blog is good enough, your projects are good enough, You are good enough! It is SO easy to compare ourselves to each other right?! Someone tweeted this quote that I LOVED. I have it on my notes on my computer desktop and I read it constantly. (If anyone knows the author please let me know!)

The things that we share on our blogs affect people. We have in our power the chance to make this world better, to make it happier, to make it more inspired. We also have in our power the chance to tear people down, to have them leave our space feeling worse than they did when they came. That carries a huge responsibility, SO STEP UP AND OWN IT!! Make a difference in someone’s life for gosh sakes!

Wonderful post! I am shocked to see that you hadn’t done a bunch of decorating before you started your blog! You are so talented. You make me feel much better because that was exactly how I was when I started 5 months ago but I absolutely love it!

Well I think you said it best for the passion part. That is how I am…kind of embarrassed sometimes how I am so sucked into this blog and creating stuff and just loving it all soo much! I liked this post a lot!

Oh gosh…I just love you to pieces! The reason…..every time I visit your blog I am inspired to be ME! Not inspired to want to be like someone else! I don’t know that I have ever wanted to be me before…I’ve always compared myself to others and wanted to be more like them. You are one of a kind, missy, and you are DANG good at it! Thanks for being you and inspiring me to be me! MUUUUAAAHHH!!! xoxo

I’ve learned that we’re each on our own timelines. Or perhaps I should say that I’m still learning that. You know, the everything-has-its-season business. That as a single mom who’s working full time, yes, it does take me longer to get things done.

So in 2012 I’m going to honor that in two ways. First, by accepting that things happen when they happen. And also by recognizing that I may need to push myself a bit harder than someone who’s not doing everything that I’m doing.

This is just what I needed to hear! I feel like I have ideas, but I freak and back out. I need to step it up and just do it! I finally broke down and painted my kitchen table with stripes and my chairs in different colors this last year and blogged about it. People loved it! I am SO glad I did it! Thanks for the pep talk!McKenziehttp://www.girllovesglam.blogspot.com

So true! I love what you said about putting yourself out there. This might be a little off base but I think it’s true to what you are saying. It’s from Abraham Lincoln and he said “What is right isn’t always popular and what is popular isn’t always right.” Everyone has something different to offer and if it’s not right for you…keep it to yourself!

Ya know Miss Mandi…. this is honestly the best 2011 review post I’ve seen yet! That quote about envy just about put me to tears! I am a new blogger and its STRESSFUL and its dang hard not to compare yourself to all of the “big time blogs”. I admire you for your strengths and your success! Thanks for the awesome post and Happy 2012

Mandi, This is why you are one of my favorites! You are so real and I love the inspiration that u have and give…..I would have never guessed that you didn’t decorate before you started VR…it was always in you! You are one talented girl!

What a terrific post, filled with such inspiring words. What I’ve learned about myself over the last year is to trust my talents and creativity. They have brought me many successes in my life and as long as I hold on to what is true and great about myself, I’ll always have success.

I CAN NOT believe you just started decorating!! Your creative genius is amazing. It seems like you have been decorating since you first decided Barbie’s Dream House needed a makeover LOL. For me, 2011 has taught me that I am in charge of my mood. No matter what happens, I can not let another person’s actions determine my day. I have a wonderful family, a roof over my head, and food in my belly, the rest always works itself out. Jamie R

I would freakin get on your bandwagon of awesomeness every single day! I love you to pieces. I wanna be 1/2 as cool as you are. I want to have 1/8th the creativity. You. Are. Original. And one of the bestest girls in the world. We’re gonna rock 2012…right?

Mandi… this is the best post I think I have ever read, seriously! You always have a way of empowering us with your insight and talent. Thank you!

I needed this Pep Talk! This is my first full year of blogging and I’ve had a few hard knocks to my ego and my confidence shaken a bit. You are so right my dear friend… I need to put on my big girl britches, be myself, revive my passion and just GO-FOR-IT!

Very inspiring post! I’ve really focused on what makes our family happy this past year and not worrying about what others think. I’ve even branched out and started my own craft blog. Wishing you more success!!!

Thank you for this encouragement! I love it! I have been designing, and redesinging a blog for over two years but way to afraid to push the publish button. I keep erasing my posts, not being able to imagine anyone wanting to read about me since there are soooo many more inspiring things to read and blogs with perfect photos etc. I feel so encouraged knowing that you were not a decorating genius in the beginning, I feel like I have to have everything perfect before I can let people in…. Thanks Again. You greatly blessed me today!

Great post – thank you for reminding me that I’m not the only one going through some of these negative concerns about whether what I am writing is interesting to anyone else except for me!! Glad you’ve overcome yours and your banners in the post above are helping me to overcome mine!

I just found your blog and I LOVE IT!!! I love this post too!!!! Thank you for being such an encouragement to the rest of us bloggers. I am a newbie and it’s SUCH a blessing to see others have the same thoughts/insecurities that I do but pushed through to great things!!! Makes me EVEN MORE EXCITED about this new journey I’m on!! THANKS!

Mandi, I seriously love your guts and your blog! I get a lot of crap in my inbox and I mark everything for deletion except for your blog posts! I’m working on a new venture right now, and you really inspire me and make me feel like I can do whatever I WANT! Love this post!!

Absolutely awesome post and such an encouragement to a newer blogger like myself. I hope I can look at my blog a year and a half down the road and say “I’m proud” … proud of the relationships I’ve built … proud of the things I’ve shared … proud of putting one foot in front of the other even when it seems like no one is reading and I don’t know what I’m doing … just proud!